Iran: Public anger driven by rising prices and a collapsing currency has spilled onto the streets of several Iranian provinces, leaving at least seven people dead as security forces and demonstrators clashed over the past two days, according to official and rights group accounts.
The unrest, initially concentrated in urban centers, has now spread to smaller towns and rural areas, particularly in western and southern regions of the country. Authorities confirmed that fatalities were recorded in four cities between Wednesday and Thursday, marking the first reported deaths since the latest wave of demonstrations began.
Observers say the violence could signal a tougher approach by Iran’s leadership, even as protest activity in Tehran appears to have eased. The deaths reportedly included both civilians and members of the security forces, highlighting the increasingly volatile nature of the unrest.
The largest confrontations were reported in Azna, a city in Lorestan province, where residents shared videos on social media showing fires burning in the streets and the sound of gunshots as crowds shouted slogans denouncing officials. Iran’s semi-official Fars news agency reported three fatalities in the city, though state broadcasters offered limited coverage of the incident. Independent journalists have faced restrictions in the past, contributing to gaps in reporting.
Further south, in Lordegan in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province, footage circulated online showed demonstrators gathered amid the sound of gunfire. Human rights groups based outside Iran said two protesters were killed there, while images shared online appeared to show heavily armed police deployed to control crowds. The area has a history of unrest, including protests in 2019 linked to allegations of medical negligence at a local clinic.
Another fatality was reported in Fuladshahr, in Isfahan province, where state media acknowledged a death during protests on Thursday. Activist groups alleged the man was shot by police, a claim not officially confirmed.
Tensions also flared earlier in the week in Kouhdasht, where a 21-year-old volunteer member of the Basij paramilitary force died during a demonstration. State-run media reported his death without details, while officials later accused protesters of killing him. Local authorities said more than a dozen security personnel were injured in the clashes and at least 20 people were detained before calm was restored.
Officials have acknowledged that the demonstrations stem largely from economic hardship. Inflation, soaring living costs and a dramatic plunge in the value of Iran’s currency — now trading at roughly 1.4 million rials to the U.S. dollar — have intensified public frustration. “These protests reflect livelihood concerns,” a provincial official said, urging citizens to express demands peacefully while warning against what he described as opportunistic elements.
President Masoud Pezeshkian’s administration has signaled a willingness to engage with public grievances, but the government has limited room to maneuver as sanctions continue to squeeze the economy. Meanwhile, state television announced the arrest of several individuals accused of ties to opposition groups abroad and reported the seizure of a cache of smuggled weapons, without providing further details.
The government also declared midweek public holidays across much of the country, officially citing cold weather, a move analysts say may have been aimed at reducing the momentum of protests in major cities.
While the demonstrations have not yet reached the scale of the nationwide uprising that followed the 2022 death of Mahsa Amini, chants heard during recent rallies have increasingly targeted Iran’s ruling system. The unrest comes as Tehran remains under pressure internationally following a brief but intense conflict with Israel earlier this year and renewed tensions with the United States over Iran’s nuclear programme.
For now, the protests underscore the depth of economic distress facing ordinary Iranians — and the delicate balance authorities must manage between control and concession as public anger continues to simmer.
